Ms. Sabel et al., USE OF ULTRASOUND-GUIDED FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THYROID-DISEASE, The American surgeon, 64(8), 1998, pp. 738-741
Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of thyroid nodules has resulted i
n fewer patients needing thyroidectomy. Nondiagnostic FNAB specimens m
ay require surgery for diagnosis. Ultrasound can help decrease nondiag
nostic biopsies by visualizing lesions and guiding biopsy needles. Bet
ween 1996 and 1997, 76 patients had ultrasound-guided needle biopsies
of thyroid nodules. Sixteen patients had clearly palpable nodules, whe
reas 19 were described as difficult to palpate. There were 32 patients
who presented with either prominent thyroids or enlarged lobes. Six p
atients presented only with nonspecific symptoms, and 3 had nodules di
scovered incidentally on imaging studies. Biopsies were diagnostic in
73 of 76 (96%) patients. This varied with the size of the nodule, with
the rate of nondiagnostic biopsies being 13 per cent in lesions <1.0
cm and 3 per cent in lesions >2.0 cm. Fifteen patients had surgery bas
ed on the FNAB, with a surgical yield of malignancy of 47 per cent. Ul
trasound-guided FNAB is extremely useful in evaluating thyroid lesions
that are difficult to palpate or nonpalpable, as well as the remainde
r of the gland and surrounding structures. The use of ultrasound guida
nce in performing FNAB results in a low rate of nondiagnostic biopsies
, which may decrease the number of unnecessary thyroidectomies perform
ed to rule out malignancy.